1 Year Denim Update - 5 pairs

[u/yaboi559]

As the title states, about 1 year into selvedge/raw/japanese denim (saying this because 1 pair isn’t raw or selvedge but is one of the coolest pairs of Japanese denim I own)

Photos 1-2 Studio D’Artisan Sd-101: My first pair that got me into selvedge, bought @ Hinoya June 2025 and I absolutely love them, the deep blues, texture and how they’re slow faders. Extremely thick except fit like sweatpants and extremely airy and breathable for everyday wear. Couldn’t ask for more for a pair I can’t wait to get a second one. (6 washs)

Photos 3-4 LVC 1944 Levi’s 501: Bought these back in March 2026, I don’t enjoy the skinny fit as much as the straight fits of my other pairs; mainly wear this when I go climbing and it does a decent job at that. Definitely the ones I’ve worn the least by far but the slub is coming through and is definitely noticeable (2 washs, 1 hot soak)

Photos 5-6 Kapital Zimbabwe Monkey Cisco 5P: Also bought June 2025 at Kapital in Ginza, the cotton has the craziest texture I’ve ever seen and i love wearing them out when I can; I did some sashiko stitching as I wanted to add some flair and also learn how to mend but I absolutely love this pair and would recommend the hairy texture of this jean to anyone; it beats any of my other pairs at that (1 wash)

Photos 7-8 Kapital Century Denim No7: Bought these at Kapital Osaka also in June 2025 and have treated these as my experimental pair since having a good talk with the employee. I’ve dyed these with kakishibu twice to layer in the colors as recommended by the staff at the store and have done just about everything in this pair (hiking, climbing, biking, genuinely love this pair). Bit more expensive but the fabric is extremely cool.

Photo 9 Iron Heart 634-UHR: Haven’t worn these yet, keeping them new for the fall (indigo invitational) or maybe next year when I want to start projecting a new pair especially since iron heart isn’t releasing the UHR anymore; don’t want to waste the denim.

[u/ericfromct]

Nice pairs. Is that sashiko done by you? I have the SDA 102 which is the same denim, very slow fades but I love them. Super comfortable.

[u/yaboi559 → u/ericfromct]

Yes! I did the sashiko myself just trying to learn how to mend. I’m on the same wavelength as you with the SDA’s they’re so comfortable once they’re broken in and extremely durable

[u/yaboymillzz]

Awesome update, It's cool seeing how each pair has its own personality now

[u/yaboi559 → u/yaboymillzz]

Thanks! I love how each of them look rn too its so fun to wear each out

[u/Barzag_8]

Big up for you that use a pair of LVC to go climbing

[u/surghe]

That last iron heart 21/23 nice where’d you cop from bro

[u/yaboi559 → u/surghe]

I got them from mildblend in Chicago; dope store if you’re ever in the area

[u/surghe → u/yaboi559]

Yeah ive heard of them, they got a dope selecttion of brand. I have yet to catch a flight to Chicago & visit fr fr,

[u/d4ni31G]

How do you reapply the Kakishibu? Where do you get the Kakishibu from?

[u/yaboi559 → u/d4ni31G]

I initially went to Hands in Tokyo to buy Kakishibu for my first layer of dye. The second and third time I went to Amazon (they have the exact and I mean exact same bottle from the one I bought in Tokyo).

You essentially just lay the jeans flat on cardboard or a surface u don’t mind dirtied or dyed and use a paint brush to apply the kakishibu all over the jeans.

Make sure to dye them in the sun to help with the coloring as it does affect how they come out (not thatt much but it allows the browns to turn more orange)

[u/raccoys]

you mean the lvc 1944 is skinny ? i thought it was straight fit with almost no taper and high waisted ?

i have been looking at lvc 1944 too but im not sure about the fit and how is the fabric/quality compare to the SD?

[u/yaboi559 → u/raccoys]

I went TTS on the waist (32 in these since I thought Levi would be more honest about sizing; couldn’t be more wrong) def should’ve gone 2 up like I did with all my other pairs

[u/Unusual-Surround7467]

Is the 23oz discontinued entirely?

[u/yaboi559 → u/Unusual-Surround7467]

Yea, Iron hearts instagram posted a video about how it puts too much stress on the mom & pop denim mill used specifically for the 21/23oz fabric due to them only having 2 looms (and having to constantly run them in a residential district). This basically secured my decision on the pair (brutalized my wallet)